Data processing apparatus, data processing method of data processing apparatus, and computer-readable memory medium storing program therein

ABSTRACT

To freely establish a peripheral equipment selection operating environment of excellent operability which can remarkably reduce an operation burden which is applied until construction information of selectable peripheral equipment can be confirmed and can easily confirm the construction information of the selectable peripheral equipment by everyone by a simple operating instruction, a CPU obtains construction information of a printer that is being selected and default setting on the basis of a selection instructing state relative to a selectable printer candidate on a network and allows them to be caption-displayed at a position near the position indicated by a cursor on a printer selection picture plane displayed on a CRT.

This application is a divisional application of application Ser. No.10/736,502, now allowed, filed Dec. 17, 2003, which is a continuationapplication of application Ser. No. 09/394,321, filed Sep. 13, 1999, nowabandoned, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a data processing apparatus which cancommunicate with a plurality of peripheral equipment through apredetermined communication medium, a data processing method of such adata processing apparatus, and a computer-readable memory medium whichstores a program for such a data processing method.

2. Related Background Art

Hitherto, in a data processing apparatus, when executing an applicationto display a list of printers on a network which can be selected, first,in order to display construction information of the printers, a printerobject (icon) is selected, a menu is subsequently displayed, a desireditem in the menu is selected, and a property dialog box of the printershown by the printer object has to be opened. Even in case of referringto a construction of the printer to be merely selected by the user, theuser has to repeat the selection and instruction of the icon inaccordance with a user interface (UI).

Even in case of referring to settable values of a plurality ofconstruction information which can be set, the user has to selectdesired construction information on the property dialog box and refer tothe settable values.

Therefore, when the user intends to print, in order to search a printerhaving a construction necessary for printing such that a color print canbe performed or a paper of the A3 size can be used, he user has tosuccessively examine by opening the property dialog box of each printerobject. There is a problem such that in case of the unselectableconstruction as a result of opening the property dialog box, similaroperations have to be performed even to the printer as a next selectioncandidate and an operation burden is large.

Further, in the above example, whether a default setting of the paper isA3 or A4 cannot be discriminated and, there is a drawback on operationsuch that in order to obtain a set value of default, the user has toselect/confirm a paper size by opening the property dialog box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is made to solve the above problems and it is an object ofthe invention to provide a data processing apparatus with excellentoperability such that on the basis of a selection instructing state forselectable peripheral equipment candidates, construction information ofthe peripheral equipment which is being selected is caption-displayed,and the construction information is displayed in a state where aproperty dialog box of a printer object is not opened, therebyremarkably reducing an operation burden until a timing when theconstruction information of the peripheral equipment is confirmed andenabling everyone to easily confirm the construction information of theselectable peripheral equipment by a simple operating instruction, andto provide a data processing method of such a data processing apparatusand a computer-readable memory medium which stores a program to realizesuch a data processing method.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction such thatby displaying all of set values and present set values of a plurality ofconstruction information which can be set, the present set state can beeasily confirmed in the plurality of construction information which arecaption-displayed.

To accomplish the above objects, according to the invention, there isprovided a data processing apparatus which can communicate with aplurality of peripheral equipment through a predetermined communicationmedium, comprising: obtaining means for obtaining constructioninformation of the plurality of peripheral equipment; discriminatingmeans for discriminating an overlap state of each icon per peripheralequipment in a peripheral equipment list to display statuses of theplurality of peripheral equipment and a cursor which can be moved andindicated; and control means for, when it is determined by thediscriminating means that the cursor is overlapped on any of icons perperipheral equipment, allowing the construction information relative tothe overlap-indicated icon per peripheral equipment obtained by theobtaining means to be caption-displayed at a position near the iconwhich is being indicated by the cursor.

The above and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description and the appendedclaims with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system constructional diagram showing an example of a dataprocessing system to which a data processing apparatus according to anembodiment can be applied;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a construction of a printsystem to which the data processing apparatus according to theembodiment can be applied;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a printer list picture planewhich is displayed on a CRT 10 shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processingprocedure in the data processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processingprocedure in the data processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a memory medium tostore various data processing programs which can be read out by the dataprocessing apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example at the time of a drag and drop ona printer list picture plane which is displayed on the CRT shown in FIG.2; and

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a set picture plane whensetting construction information in a driver of peripheral equipment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a system constructional diagram showing an example of a dataprocessing system to which a data processing apparatus according to anembodiment can be applied.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 101 to 103 denote host computers (hostmachines) which are constructed so that they can communicate through anetwork 108 in accordance with a predetermined protocol and 104 to 107indicate printers. The printers 106 and 107 function as local printerswhich are connected to the corresponding host machines 101 and 103through an interface, which will be explained hereinlater. In the hostcomputer 101, it is assumed that driver software of the printers 104 to107 has been installed in a memory resource such as a hard disk or thelike, which will be explained hereinlater, as a prerequisite.

It is assumed that the printers 106 and 107 are directly connected tothe host machines 103 and 101, respectively, by a serial interface, aparallel interface, a universal serial bus (USB), an IEEE1394 interface,or the like and the printers 104 and 105 are directly connected to thenetwork 108 by a network interface card (hereinafter, referred to as anNIC). The host machine 103 is connected to the network 108 and providesa printing function of the printer 106 to the machine on the network108.

In the embodiment, the application obtains the construction informationof the printers at the time of initialization or at periodic or randomintervals after the initialization.

Each of the host machines 101 to 103 displays the obtained constructioninformation, as a caption, at the timing when a cursor is overlapped ona printer icon indicative of the printer when an application to displaya printer list is executed or the timing when the cursor is overlappedon the printer icon indicative of the printer in a state where a textfile icon is dragged as shown in FIG. 3, which will be explainedhereinlater.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a construction of a printsystem to which the data processing apparatus according to theembodiment can be applied.

A laser beam printer (FIG. 1) will now be described as an example. Theinvention can be obviously applied to any of a system comprising singleequipment, a system comprising a plurality of equipment, and a system inwhich processes are performed through a network such as an LAN or thelike so long as the functions of the invention are executed.

In the diagram, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer having aCPU 1 for executing document processes of a document in which a figure,an image, characters, a table (including a spreadsheet), and the likemixedly exist on the basis of a document processing program or the likestored in a program ROM of an ROM 3. The CPU 1 integratedly controlsdevices connected to a system bus 4.

A control program and the like of the CPU 1 as shown in a flowchartshown in FIG. 4 is stored in the program ROM of the ROM 3. Font data andthe like which are used in the document processes are stored in a fontROM of the ROM 3. Various data (for example, programs of various pagedescription languages, data for rasterization of fonts, and the like)which is used when performing the document processes or the like isstored in a data ROM of the ROM 3.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an RAM which can be expanded by an optionRAM or the like and functions as a main memory, a work area, or the likeof the CPU 1 and 5 indicates a keyboard controller (KBC) for controllinga key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown).

Reference numeral 6 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC) for controlling adisplay of a CRT display (CRT) 10 and 7 indicates a disk controller(DKC) for controlling an access with an external memory 11 such as harddisk (HD), floppy disk (FD), or the like to store a boot program,various applications, font data, a user file, an edit file, and thelike.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a printer controller (PRTC) which isconnected to a printer 1500 through a predetermined bidirectionalinterface (interface) 21 and executes a communication control processwith the printer 1500. The CPU 1 executes a developing (rasterizing)process of outline fonts into, for example, a display information RAMarea set on the RAM 2, thereby enabling WYSIWYG on the CRT 10 to beperformed.

The CPU 1 opens various registered windows on the basis of commandsinstructed by a mouse cursor or the like (not shown) on the CRT 10 andexecutes various data processes.

In the printer 1500, reference numeral 12 denotes a printer CPU (CPU)for integratedly controlling accesses with various devices connected toa system bus 15 on the basis of a control program or the like stored ina program ROM of an ROM 13 or a control program or the like stored in anexternal memory 14 and outputting an image signal as output informationto a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected through a printerengine interface 16.

A control program and the like which can be executed by the CPU 12 arestored in the program ROM of the ROM 13. Further, font data (includingoutline font data) and the like which are used when the outputinformation is formed are stored in a font ROM of the ROM 13. In case ofa printer without the external memory 14 such as a hard disk,information and the like which are used on the host computer 3000 arestored in a data ROM of the ROM 13.

The CPU 12 can perform a communicating process with the host computer3000 through an input unit 18 and can notify the host computer 3000 ofinformation and the like in the printer 1500.

Reference numeral 19 denotes an RAM which mainly functions as a mainmemory, a work area, or the like of the CPU 12 and is constructed suchthat a memory capacity can be expanded by an option RAM connected to anexpanding port (not shown).

The RAM 19 is used for an output information rasterizing area, anenvironment data storing area, an NVRAM, or the like. An access to theexternal memory 14 such as hard disk (HD), IC card, or the likementioned above is controlled by a disk controller (DKC) 20. Theexternal memory 14 is connected as an option and stores font data(including font data which is downloaded from the host computer 3000 orthe like), an emulation program (including an emulation program which isdownloaded from the host computer 3000 or the like), form data (which isdownloaded from the host computer 3000 or the like), and the like.Reference numeral 24 denotes a nonvolatile memory which stores printerset data.

Reference numeral 1501 denotes an operation panel on which operationswitches, an LED display, and the like are arranged.

Each of the external memories 11 and 14 is not limited to one memory butcan be constructed such that at least one or more memories are providedand in addition to the built-in fonts, a plurality of option font cardsand external memories in which programs for interpreting printer controllanguages of different language systems have been stored can beconnected. Further, it is also possible to have an NVRAM (not shown) andstore printer mode set information per user and per group from theoperation panel 1501.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a printer list picture planewhich is displayed on the CRT 10 shown in FIG. 2 and corresponds to apicture plane which is displayed by the execution of an application inassociation with a menu selecting instruction (not shown). Thisapplication can obtain status information of the printing apparatus,display the obtained status information to the operator, notify a printserver of the order of a print job to print by a certain printingapparatus, obtain the order of the print jobs spooled in the printingapparatus by directly communicating with the printing apparatus, andinstruct a deletion, a temporary stop, an order change of the print jobsspooled in the print server and printing apparatus, further, a change inthe number of print copies, and the like. In the application, a printerlist is displayed as shown in FIG. 3 and can be printed by performingthe drag and drop (the operation such that the cursor of the mouse ispositioned to an icon and the icon is picked up and moved by pressingthe button of the mouse is called “drag” and the operation which isexecuted in a range from the movement of the icon to the release of thepicked-up icon at a desired position is called “drag and drop”) to atext file icon, a spreadsheet file icon, an image file icon, or the likeby using the mouse.

Specifically speaking, a printer driver corresponding to the printingapparatus existing at the dragged and dropped position is started, adrawing function from the application to be opened in the file of theicon is received through the OS, and outputted to a port set as a PDL orimage data. However, since such a printer management application ispopular in recent years, its details are omitted.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 300 denotes a printer list picture planewhich is displayed when a printer list is selected by a menu (notshown). It corresponds to a case where printer icons PI-1 to PI-4 ofprinter candidates which can communicate are displayed as a list. When aprinter management application is activated, the printers registered inthe system are displayed. This application communicates to a connectiondestination and requests and obtains a status, the number of jobs, andthe like.

Reference numeral 301 denotes a cursor. Since the cursor 301 is locatedat present on the printer icon PI-1, it corresponds to a state whereconstruction information (which is obtained at the foregoing timing andhas been stored and managed together with ID information on memoryresources) of the printer 107 corresponding to the printer icon PI-1,for example, color, double-sided print, A3·A4·B5, and memory 2048 kB arecaption-displayed. * denotes a default set value. *A4 indicates that adefault of the paper size is A4.

The above construction is similarly applied to the case where the textfile icon is dragged and the cursor is positioned on the printer icon asshown in FIG. 7.

The contents of the captions can be enlargedly displayed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the first data processingprocedure in the data processing apparatus according to the embodiment.The application corresponds to a process for obtaining the constructioninformation of the printer and getting the default setting at the timeof initialization and at periodic or random intervals after theinitialization.

Reference numerals (1) to (4) denote processing steps.

First, a printer management application stored in the host machine 101discriminates whether the present timing is the set obtaining timing ornot (1). If NO, the apparatus waits until the present timing reaches theobtaining timing. If YES, the apparatus communicates with the printers104 to 107 on the network 108 and obtains the construction information(for example, color, double-sided print, A3·A4·B5, memory 2048 kB) (2).After the construction information was obtained, the default set valueof a plurality of construction information which can be set is obtained(3). There are a case where the default set value is obtained from theprinter and a case where it is obtained from the printer driver storedin the host computer. In case of obtaining it from the printer., it isset by the operation panel (1501 in FIG. 2) of the printer and thedefault setting stored in the nonvolatile memory (24 in FIG. 2) or RAM(19 in FIG. 2) is obtained. In case of obtaining it from the hostcomputer, it is set by the printer driver as software to perform alanguage process for outputting to the printer and the default settingstored in an HD (121 in FIG. 2) or RAM (2 in FIG. 2) is obtained. It isassumed that the operator preliminarily performs a print setting of theprinter driver by a set picture plane as shown in FIG. 8. In case of theOS of Windows 95 (Microsoft Corporation of U.S.A.), the picture plane ofFIG. 8 is displayed by right-clicking the printer icon of the printmanager and displaying a property. In the diagram, it corresponds to asheet to perform the setting regarding finishing of an output paper sizeor the like. In recent years, since the print setting is complicated toalso enable the finishing, layout, and further, image processes, and thelike to be performed, such a sheet is divided into a plurality of sheetsas shown in FIG. 8, thereby allowing a desired item to be set. In FIG.8, the sheet is divided into the sheets of “Main”, “Paper”, “Layout”,“Device Option”, “Overlay”, and “Page Composer”.

In the next step, the printer management application stores the obtainedconstruction information together with the printer ID into the memoryresources (for example, hard disk or RAM 2) (4) and finishes theprocessing routine. Thus, even if the selectable printer candidates aredynamically fluctuated because the printer is turned on/off on thenetwork during the on state of the power source like a USB, IEEE1394, orthe like, the latest printer construction information can be alwaysobtained and managed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the second data processingprocedure in the data processing apparatus according to the embodimentand corresponds to the display processing procedure of the printerconstruction information.

Reference numerals (1) to (8) indicate processing steps.

First, when a start request of the printer management application isissued from the OS and the printer list display is requested (1), adisplay application as a printer management application is executed (2)and the printer list picture plane including the printer icon which cancommunicate is displayed on the display unit (3). Subsequently, whetherthe cursor is overlapped on any of printer icons in the displayedprinter list picture plane or not is discriminated (4). When it isdetermined that the cursor is not on the printer icon, the processingroutine is returned. Since the discrimination about the overlap betweenthe cursor of the icon or a text file or the like which is dragged bythe icon and the printer icon is a technique which has conventionallybeen used, its detailed description is omitted.

When it is determined in step (4) that the cursor is on the printer iconor the text file icon is dragged and the cursor is on the printer icon,the printer management application identifies the overlapped printericon (5). Subsequently, the printer construction informationcorresponding to the identified printer icon is read out from the memoryresources (6). The printer construction information is previously storedinto the memory resources by the method mentioned in FIG. 4. As for theprinter construction information, when it is decided in step (5) thatthe cursor is overlapped, the information can be obtained as shown inFIG. 4 for the printer or printer driver. In this case, thepredetermined timing in step (1) in FIG. 4 is a timing when the answerin discriminating step (5) in FIG. 5 is “Y”, namely, when it isdetermined that the printer icon and the icon cursor (or the draggedtext file) are overlapped.

Subsequently, the printer management application calls the defaultsetting of the printer construction information (7) and displays theread-out printer construction information and default setting ascaptions (refer to FIGS. 3 and 7) (8). As mentioned above, when thesetting is displayed as a caption, * showing the default setting isadded just after the default setting (FIG. 7). After that, when it isdetermined in step (9) that the file icon has been dragged, namely, thetext file icon and the cursor are overlapped and, further, the file iconhas been dropped (released), as mentioned above, the correspondingprinter driver of the printer is started and the print data is formedfrom the text file (spreadsheet file or image file) and outputted to theprinter (10). In the other case, the processing routine is returned tostep (4). When the text file is outputted to the printer, the drawingfunction which is provided by the OS is used. That is, in Windows 95,the drawing function called a GDI (Graphical Driver Interface) is used,the contents of the text file are sent to the GDI by a drawing functionformat called a GDI function. In the GDI, they are transferred to theprinter driver by a drawing function format called a DDI (Device DriverInterface) function. The DDI function is a function of a format whichcan be interpreted by the device. In the printer driver, print datacomprising PDL or image data is formed on the basis of the DDI function.

Thus, when the cursor is on the printer icon or when the text file iconis dragged and the cursor is on the printer icon, the constructioninformation of the printer icon and the default setting of theconstruction information are caption-displayed. Therefore, by the simpleoperation such that the cursor is overlapped on each of the displayedprinter icons on the printer list picture plane, the printerconstruction information and default setting are immediately displayedand their contents can be confirmed.

The embodiment has been described with respect to the case where theconstruction information and default setting of each printer areobtained at the foregoing timing and read out and displayed at the timeof the cursor instruction. However, it is also possible to construct ina manner such that when the cursor 301 is overlapped onto the iconindicative of the printer in the display area of the application, theconstruction information of each printer on the network is obtained, thedefault setting of the construction information is obtained, and theobtained construction information and default setting arecaption-displayed as shown in FIG. 3.

A construction of a data processing program which can be read out by thedata processing apparatus according to the invention will now bedescribed hereinbelow with reference to a memory map shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the memory map of a memory medium tostore various data processing programs which can be read out by the dataprocessing apparatus according to the invention.

Although not particularly shown, there is also a case where informationto manage the programs which are stored in the memory medium, forexample, version information, names of the persons who made theprograms, and the like are stored and information depending on the OS orthe like on the program reading side, for example, an icon to identifyand display the program and the like are stored.

Further, the data belonging to the various programs is also managed in adirectory. There is also a case where a program to install the variousprograms into a computer or, when the program for installing has beencompressed, a program for decompressing or the like is stored.

The printer management application having the functions shown in FIGS. 4and 5 in the embodiment can be executed by the host computer by aprogram which is installed from the outside. In this case, the inventionis applied even to a case where information including the programs issupplied to an output apparatus from a memory medium such as CD-ROM,flash memory, FD, or the like or from an external memory medium throughthe network.

The objects of the invention are also obviously accomplished by a methodwhereby a memory medium on which program codes of software to realizethe functions of the embodiment as mentioned above have been recorded issupplied to a system or an apparatus and a computer (or a CPU or an MPU)of the system or apparatus reads out the program codes stored in thememory medium and executes them.

In this case, the program codes themselves read out from the memorymedium realize the novel functions of the invention and the memorymedium in which the program codes have been stored constructs theinvention.

As a memory medium to supply the program codes, for example, it ispossible to use any of a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, amagnetooptic disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatilememory card, an ROM, an EEPROM, and the like.

The invention incorporates not only a case where the functions of theembodiment mentioned above are realized by executing the read-outprogram codes by the computer but also a case where the OS (OperatingSystem) or the like which operates on the computer executes a part orall of the actual processes on the basis of instructions of the programcodes and the functions of the foregoing embodiment are realized bythose processes.

Further, the invention also incorporates a case where the program codesread out from the memory medium are written into a memory equipped for afunction expanding board inserted to a computer or a function expandingunit connected to the computer and, after that, a CPU or the likeequipped for the function expanding board or function expanding unitexecutes a part or all of the actual processes on the basis ofinstructions of the program codes, and the functions of the embodimentare realized by those processes.

According to the embodiment, when the user intends to print, thenecessity to open and examine the property dialog box of each printereach time in order to search the printer having the constructionnecessary to print can be eliminated. The load of the preparing work forprinting of the user is reduced and the convenience is improved.

Although the embodiment has been described with respect to the examplein which the printer is used as peripheral equipment, the peripheralequipment is not limited to the printer but the invention can be appliedto any of a printer, a scanner, a facsimile apparatus, a copyingapparatus, and a hybrid apparatus or a combination of them.

As described above, according to the invention, the constructioninformation of each peripheral equipment can be preliminarily obtainedand managed and by the simple operation such that the cursor is movedand overlapped to the peripheral equipment to be selected, theconstruction information such that it cannot inherently be confirmedunless the peripheral equipment is selected and the property is openedcan be confirmed on the peripheral equipment list picture plane. Thedesired peripheral equipment of the user can be searched and selected ina short time.

By displaying all of the set values of a plurality of constructioninformation which can be set and the present set value, the present setcontents among the plurality of construction information which iscaption-displayed can be easily confirmed.

Even when the print of the target file is instructed by the drag anddrop, the construction information of the peripheral equipment can beeasily confirmed. Therefore, the desired peripheral equipment of theuser can be searched in a short time and the target file can beoutputted.

The construction information of various peripheral equipment can beobtained and displayed by a similar simple operation and theconstruction information of the printer, scanner, facsimile apparatus,copying apparatus, and hybrid apparatus can be easily confirmed.

Since the universal serial bus or IEEE1394 is included as a connectingform of any of the peripheral equipment, even if the system constructingelement is successively dynamically fluctuated, the latest constructioninformation of the peripheral equipment which is recognized can besuccessively obtained and displayed to the user.

The construction information such that it inherently cannot be confirmedunless the peripheral equipment is selected and the property is openedcan be confirmed on the peripheral equipment list picture plane whileobtaining it from the peripheral equipment that is being instructed bythe cursor by the simple operation such that the cursor is moved andoverlapped on the peripheral equipment to be selected. The desiredperipheral equipment of the user can be searched and selected.

Therefore, the operation burden which is applied until the constructioninformation of the selectable peripheral equipment is confirmed isremarkably reduced. The construction information of the selectableperipheral equipment and the default setting of the constructioninformation can be easily confirmed by everyone by the simple operatinginstruction. There is an effect such that the peripheral equipmentselection operating environment of excellent operability which caneasily output a text file can be freely constructed or the like.

The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments butmany modifications and variations are possible within the spirit andscope of the appended claims of the invention.

1. A data processing apparatus, comprising: a first display control unitconstructed to control displaying of a first object of a first imageforming apparatus and a second object of a second image formingapparatus; and a second display control unit constructed to controldisplaying such that, when a cursor is overlapping the first object,construction information of the first image forming apparatus isdisplayed, and such that when the cursor is overlapping the secondobject, construction information of the second image forming apparatusis displayed, wherein said second display control unit controlsdisplaying such that a plurality of sheet sizes which the first orsecond image forming apparatus is able to store are displayed, and suchthat one of the plurality of sheet sizes currently set in the first orsecond image forming apparatus is displayed distinguishably from therest of the plurality of sheet sizes.
 2. The data processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the first or second object comprises anicon of a printer which can communicate with said data processingapparatus and a name of the printer.
 3. A method for a data processingapparatus, comprising: a first display control step of controllingdisplay of a first object of a first image forming apparatus and asecond object of a second image forming apparatus; and a second displaycontrol step of controlling displaying such that, when a cursor isoverlapping the first object, the construction information of the firstimage forming apparatus is displayed, and such that when the cursor isoverlapping the second object, construction information of the secondimage forming apparatus is displayed, wherein said second displaycontrol step controls displaying such that a plurality of sheet sizeswhich the first or second image forming apparatus is able to store aredisplayed, and such that one of the plurality of sheet sizes currentlyset in the first or second image forming apparatus is displayeddistinguishably from the rest of the plurality of sheet sizes.
 4. Themethod according to claim 3, wherein the first or second objectcomprises an icon of a printer which can communicate with said dataprocessing apparatus and a name of the printer.
 5. A computer-readablemedium storing a computer program for a data processing apparatus,comprising: a first display control step of controlling display of afirst object of a first image forming apparatus and a second object of asecond image forming apparatus; and a second display control step ofcontrolling displaying such that, when a cursor is overlapping the firstobject, construction information of the first image forming apparatus isdisplayed, and such that when the cursor is overlapping the secondobject, construction information of the second image forming apparatusis displayed, wherein said second display control step controlsdisplaying, such that a plurality of sheet sizes which the first orsecond image forming apparatus is able to store are displayed, and suchthat one of the plurality of sheet sizes currently set in the first orsecond image forming apparatus is displayed distinguishably from therest of the plurality of sheet sizes.
 6. The computer-readable mediumaccording to claim 5, wherein the first or second object comprises anicon of a printer which can communicate with said data processingapparatus and a name of the printer.